Supported Solitary Retreat - 2018

Kallara Conference Centre, Boho South, Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria

with Subhana Barzaghi, Ellen Davison, Victor von der Heyde, Mal Huxter,

Kirsten Kratz, Christine Thompson

30 July – 29 August 2018, or first or second halfth th

We are pleased to offer, for the first time in Australia, this supported solitary retreat, providing a valuable

opportunity for experienced meditators to engage in a longer period of intensive personal practice, in the

company of others. This will be the only retreat of its kind in the country, and is offered to support the broader

Australia-wide Insight Meditation community.

This solitary retreat will be supported by on-site and remote teachers, who will offer participants two

interviews, either face-to-face or by Skype, each week throughout the retreat.

Participants can set their own retreat schedule: there will be no formal retreat schedule, teachings or

dharma talks, apart from possibly two set sitting times in the day that participants can choose to come

to or not) and the meal times. All participants need to have attended at least three week-long teacher-

led silent meditation retreats previously.

There will be an opportunity for retreatants to play recorded dharma talks if desired at a specific time

each day (which all retreatants are welcome to attend). A daily mindfulness work period will also be

part of each day’s practice. Participants will be able to practice in the meditation hall with others, or in

their own rooms or surrounding forest. Participants can make time for study, exercise or yoga. The

retreat will be in silence.

Each participant will have a single room and use shared bathrooms. Three nutritious, vegetarian

meals will be provided each day.

Participants can attend as follows:

For the full month, from Monday, 30 July – W ednesday, 29 August th th

For the first 15 days, from Monday, 30 July – Tuesday, 14 August th th

For the second 15 days, from Tuesday, 14 August – W ednesday, 29 Augustth th

In order to support the deepening of practice, and to preserve the silent retreat environment, we ask

that arrivals or departures only happen on these dates.

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Teachers: The listed teachers providing support are:

Subhana Barzaghi

Ellen Davison

Victor von der Heyde

Mal Huxter

Kirsten Kratz

Christine Thompson

Of these, only Victor von der Heyde will be at the retreat and offering face-to-face interviews. Other

teachers will be offering twice weekly interviews via Skype. Two laptops with Skype will be available

for this purpose on the retreat. Participants will generally have the one teacher for the duration of the

retreat . Subhana Barzaghi will only be taking people who have completed one or more retreats with

her. Kirsten Kratz will only be available for the first half of the retreat. Since she lives in the UK, her

interviews will take into account the different times zones. Mal Huxter will only be available for the

second half of the retreat. Teachers will be allocated on a first requested basis with people doing the

full month given priority.

Participants will also have the opportunity to arrange for interviews with a teacher other than one of

the listed teachers. All the teachers in the Insight Network Teachers Group (on www.dharma.org.au)

and all teachers listed on www.dharmaseed.org are acceptable. For any teacher not in these groups,

please check with the registrar before you make arrangements.

Teachers other than the listed teachers will need to contact the registrar to confirm their involvement.

Subhana Barzaghi is both a Zen Roshi and a teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition. She is a

resident teacher of the Sydney Zen Centre and founding teacher of both the Bluegum Sangha

in Sydney and the Kuan Yin Meditation Centre in Lismore. Subhana's teaching emphasises

liberation here and now through the practice of calm abiding and inquiry. She leads Zen and

Insight Meditation retreats in the Northern Rivers, Sydney, Melbourne and in New Zealand.

Ellen Davison has practiced in both the Zen and Vipassana traditions for over 30 years with

teachers in Japan, India, North America, Hawaii and Australia. Ellen is a Zen teacher in the

Diamond Sangha Lineage and teaches both Zen and Insight/Vipassana retreats in Australia. She

is a guiding teacher at the Kuan Yin Meditation Centre in Lismore, NSW, and at Bay Insight in

Byron Bay. Ellen is a Psychologist and has worked primarily as a counsellor in tertiary

education.

Victor von der Heyde has been practising meditation for over thirty years. He studied with a

wide range of dharma teachers in India, Nepal, the US, UK and Australia and has spent over

two years in silent retreats. He has taken dharma teaching roles since the mid 1990s and has

interests in engaged Buddhist practice and helping people understand the different types of

meditation so that they're in a position to choose what works for them. Victor worked for

many years as a counsellor.

Mal Huxter began following the teachings of the Buddha in the mid 1970's and has mostly

practised within the Theravada traditions. He ordained in Thailand and practised intensively as

a monk for 2 years. After disrobing in 1979 he continued his commitment to meditation

through daily practice, study with lay and ordained teachers and regular attendance at

intensive retreats within the Mahasi tradition. He has also practised within Tibetan Mahayana

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and Japanese Zen traditions. Malcolm is a clinical psychologist and works in both public mental

health and private practice. He has been sharing his understanding about the path of

awakening in the form of individual psychotherapy, courses, retreats, and therapist supervision

and workshops since 1991

Kirsten Kratz has practised Buddhist meditation in Asia and the West since 1993. She started

teaching in 2006. One of her particular passions is exploring how wisdom teachings can foster

appropriate responses to the challenges of our time; she supports those on personal retreat in

Gaia House, is co-initiator of the Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement: DANCE and

teaches retreats with SanghaSeva combining Dharma practice and Service.

Christine Thompson has had a love of the Buddha Dharma since the 1970’s and has lived in a

Dharma community in the UK with Christopher Titmuss and Christine Feldman. Christine has

participated on long retreats in India and also in the U.S. In recent years Christine has taught

both in Bodh Gaya and in Sarnath (India), and has been a teacher with Melbourne Insight

Meditation. She now lives and teaches in Canberra and is also a prison chaplain.

Venue: Kallara Conference Centre, 332 Boundary Road, Boho South, Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria.

Kallara has good internet reception but no mobile reception.

Cost: For the full month $1,980

For 15 days only $1,000

The cost covers food, accommodation, administration and insurance for Melbourne Insight Meditation

Group, and some of the on-site teacher and manager costs, but does not include any payment to

teachers. A non-refundable deposit of $125 is required with the registration forms to secure a place.

Full payment is needed by the 30 June, one month before the retreat starts. th

Dana: In keeping with an Insight Meditation and Theravada traditions, interviews are offered on a

dana (generosity) basis. At the end of the retreat there’ll be a box for dana and envelopes to write

who the dana is intended for. Bank account details of the teachers will also be provided. Dana is a

reciprocal offering of generosity to the teacher. The level of dana also has an influence on how often

teachings are offered on a dana basis in the future.

Getting there: Kallara is about a two and a half hour drive from Melbourne, a seven and a half hour

drive from Sydney, and a half hour drive from Euroa station, the closest train station. W e will try to

arrange lifts with people driving from Melbourne and from Sydney and we will make transport

arrangements, which may cost extra, for people arriving in Euroa.

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Registration: Please complete the registration forms, then

Scan and email them to Robyn Gibson at

or email Robyn to get her postal address and send a paper copy of the forms.

Then pay the deposit for the retreat and email Robyn (with name, address, date of payment and

amount paid) to confirm the payment has been make.

Account name: Melbourne Insight Meditation Group

BSB: 033086

Account Number: 355486

Specify “So18" followed by your name in the reference field so we can identify your payment.

For inquiries and further information, please contact Robyn on

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